Both enduring tough seasons and living at the bottom of the ladder, there was still plenty on the line when the two sides met on Saturday, with a win for Merrigum to lift them level with the Towners, leaving it to a percentage battle for bottom spot over the final fortnight.
But Violet Town ensured it didn’t come to that with a clinical showing, claiming a 19.10 (124) to 8.25 (73) triumph, and while not yet official, effectively handed the Bulldogs the wooden spoon in the process.
Entering the clash off a torrid stretch, the Towners could sniff the win before the ball had even been thrown up, and immediately sunk their teeth into the Bulldogs, firing seven shots through the big sticks in dominant opening term.
A Merrigum had its chances early, too, but were unable to convert, leaving Violet Town to take a 7.2 (44) to 2.5 (17) lead into the first break, and it grew further before half time.
While the straight shooting they enjoyed in the first term erred slightly in the second, resulting in a return of 4.6 for the second quarter, the Towners’ woes in front of goal were nothing compared to the Bulldogs, who posted seven behinds for the quarter from seven scoring shots, as the Towners increased the margin to an even 50 points heading into the rooms.
The fast start would prove decisive by the final siren, as while Merrigum came out a much more competitive outfit following the break, Violet Town was well in control of proceedings.
The Towners extended the margin again in the third term, though only by two points to lead by 52 at the final change, before the Bulldogs won the final term by a point, leaving the final margin of victory 51 points in favour of the Towners.
Ashly Hobbs and Patrick Horsburgh did the majority of the damage for the Towners in the win, booting six and five goals, respectively, while co-captain Ryan Jennings was the only other multiple goalkicker with two, and fellow co-captain Nathan Abley was named best afield in the win.
The Towners will host Longwood this Sunday in the penultimate round of the season, before travelling to take on finals-bound Avenel the following week to round out the season.
While the senior footballers finally got the monkey off the back, there would be no such luck for Violet Town’s A grade netball side, who slumped to an eighth straight loss at the weekend.
Taking on a top four side in Merrigum, the Towners were valiant but ultimately unable to overcome the class of the Bulldogs, going down 24-41 as their tough period continues.
The Towners (4-10) have now gone without an A grade win since May, last tasting success on court against Murchison-Toolamba in round seven, though will be hopeful of securing a victory over the final fortnight.
Their best chance comes this weekend against Longwood (2-12), having accounted for the Redlegs by 15 goals earlier this season, while a final round match up against Avenel (7-7) could prove an exciting clash, with the Swans having also been ruled out of finals contention.
